Thomas Iveson was sentenced to nine years behind bars and handed an additional four years on licence for the manslaughter of Craig Richardson
David Powell and Steve Bagnall
17:06, 28 Nov 2025Updated 17:14, 28 Nov 2025
Thomas Iveson, 30, of Llyndir Lane, Burton, Rosset(Image: North Wales Police)
A man who beat a dad from Wrexham to death in his own home has been jailed. Thomas Iveson, 30, killed Craig Joseph Richardson, 37, at his home in the Plas Madoc area of Acrefair on February 23.
Iveson, of Llyndir Lane in Burton, Rossett, was convicted of the manslaughter of Mr Richardson earlier this month following a trial. A jury found him not guilty of murder.
In the early hours of February 23, Iveson went with Mr Richardson to his flat. Later that morning, Mr Richardson was found dead by friends having sustained multiple catastrophic injuries, North Wales Live reports.
Iveson was arrested that day on suspicion of murder. He argued he had acted in self defence after Mr Richardson had headbutted him.
During the trial Iveson, under questioning from prosecutor Michael Jones KC, had denied having a short temper. He admitted punching Mr Richardson three times but insisted he had not kicked him.
On Friday the sentencing hearing heard again how Mr Richardson had an addiction to cocaine and had become a dealer to support his addiction. He also had a criminal record for violence.
Craig Richardson(Image: Family handout)
The court heard how Mr Richardson had begun to behave “erratically” in the period before his death and had been drinking despite his alcohol tag. On the weekend that Iveson killed Mr Richardson both had been drinking together when Mr Richardson headbutted Iveson “seemingly out of the blue”.
Judge Mrs Justice Eady told Iveson in the dock on Friday: “I accept it was your desire to talk him out of this behaviour of paranoia.”
The court heard the pair went up to the bedroom and in the doorway Mr Richardson turned on Iveson and headbutted him “seemingly out of the blue”.
The judge told Iveson: “I accept you were responding to his assault when you punched back at his head causing the grave injuries.”
The court heard how the degree of force Iveson used was far in excess of that which was proportionate. Mr Richardson’s headbutt caused bruising but Iveson’s punches caused damage like a “high speed collision or repeated stamps to the face”, according to pathologist Brian Dr Rodgers. As his victim began to lose consciousness Iveson made no attempt to help him, the court heard.
A victim impact statement by Mr Richardson’s father Brian was read to the court on Friday in which he said his son had suffered “unspeakable violence”.
Benjamin Myers KC, for Iveson, said: “The tragedy and impact of Craig Richardson’s death is recognised by everybody, described by Brian Richardson. The violence was started by Craig Richardson. The violence used by Mr Iveson on the evidence is limited to two or three punches.
“Mr Richardson was in an increasingly volatile and paranoid state that day. The two were on good terms. There is absolutely no evidential basis for finding Mr Iveson launched an unprovoked attack on Mr Richardson.”
Iveson had 16 previous convictions for 38 offences going back to the age of 15. The judge said Iveson’s history of offending suggested a “troubling pattern” of violence.
Iveson was sentenced to nine years in custody. The judge said there will be an extended sentence of four years, making a total sentence of 13 years.